Exploring the Mythological and Religious Value of Geoheritage. Case Study: The Bucegi Mountains

• Main Author: IRINA-MARIA NECHES
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Bucharest 2013-10-01
• Series: Annals of the University of Bucharest: Geography Series
• Subjects: geoheritage; mythological value; religious value; geomythology; Bucegi Mountains
• Online Access: http://annalsreview.geo.unibuc.ro/2013/Neches.pdf

This paper considers two of the cultural values of g eoheritage: the mythological and the religious value, while introducing Omu peak and Ial omi ţ a cave, two natural destinations located within the Bucegi Mountains of Romania’s Southern Ca rpathians. Although mythology and religion share common aspects, it is necessary to d istinguish them. Mythology emerged in ancient times as a way of explaining the physical world, wher eas religion characterizes an upper stage in the evolution of mankind. Mythology is reduced to s piritual beliefs, while religion is based upon sacred practices to recall and strengthen these bel iefs. The religious value of geoheritage is conditioned by the existence of sacred relics or pl aces of worship close to geological formations. According to the age of these items, the religious value can be either pre-historical or historical. Omu peak has only acquired a mythological value sin ce hypotheses related to its religious value are not confirmed. Ialomi ţ a cave has acquired both a mythological and a relig ious value. In addition to their exploration as close components o f geoheritage, a brief model for their assessment is also introduced. Both steps aim to en courage landform exploitation not only by means of scientific interpretation but also by reve aling and explaining their cultural attributes.